Light Emission Device and Light Emitter Using the Same

Abstract

The present invention aims at: emitting a uniform light on the whole with a high luminance to provide a required bright illumination; suppressing increase of temperature and reducing power consumption; and permitting easy alteration of entire shape and size thereof.

A light emission device 10 is provided, which comprises: a transparent element 30 of columnar shape having a substantially circular shape in section; a light cover 12 attached on outer surface of the transparent element 30 so as to securely sandwich and retain that particular outer surface of transparent element; and a plurality of LEDs 22 for applying lights to the transparent element 30, the plurality of LEDs 22 being provided in the light cover 12. Such LEDs 22 are disposed relative to said transparent element 30, such that a predetermined space I is essentially given between the LEDs 22 and the surface of the transparent element 30. Upon lights being emitted from the LEDs 22, the lights expands freely in an air zone between the LEDs 22 and the transparent element 30 and are therefore applied to that particular transparent element 30 from many angles. Then, the lights are refracted and diffused due to a lens effect of the transparent element 30, and emitted from an opening area 14 of the light cover 12 to the outside. When such light emission is viewed from the outside, it is observed that a whole of the transparent element 30 is illuminated uniformly with a high luminance.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a light emission device and a light emitter using the light emission device. More particularly, the invention is directed to an improvement of a light emission device which comprises a transparent element and a means for introducing a light into and through the transparent element, as well as to an improvement of light emitter using that light emission device, in order to materialize a high luminance and uniformity of a light emitted therefrom.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Lighting equipment or luminaire, such as a fluorescent lamp, used in individual homes, offices, hospitals and other facilities, has a reflector member disposed behind or laterally of a light source. With such arrangement, a light emitted from the light source (e.g. fluorescent lamp or incandescent lamp) is directed to the reflector member and reflected thereby in a desired direction to a side or object to be illuminated. Due to such light reflection effect, a luminance o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]In accordance with the present invention, the transparent element has the curved surface region of substantially arcuate or circular shape in section and also has a property that allows substantive light to pass therethrough, and a light is applied from the light source to such curved surface region of transparent element. In this respect, the present invention utilizes a lens effect to the light, which is caused by that curved surface region. Accordingly, a whole of the transparent element can be illuminated uniformly with a high luminance to provide a satisfied bright illumination that fulfills desired purposes, and also, it is possible to easily alter the shape and size of the transparent element, according to requirements. Further, in the present invention, an LED(s) is / are employed as the light source, which makes it possible to reduce power consumption, and a heat radiation may be provided, as required, to suppress increase of temperature.

Problems solved by technology

However, in general, many of lighting equipments using LEDs are faced with the problem that the light quantity thereof is low and insufficient relative to that of the incandescent lamp or the like, and therefore, a sufficient luminance may not be attained for required purpose, depending on a circumstance where the lighting equipment is installed or used.

In particular, in the case of a linear (rectilinear) form of lighting equipment using one single LED, it is generally conceived that the lighting region thereof becomes higher in luminance as it proceeds closer to a light source, while becoming lower in luminance as it proceeds away from the light source, and therefore, it is of a high likelihood that an uneven luminance of light may be applied from the lighting equipment on the whole to an object which will thus be illuminated unevenly therewith.

Consequently, if it is desired to create a uniform band of light of a more satisfied luminance with such prior art, additional many numbers of LEDs are required to be arranged in the foregoing manner, which nonetheless results in being a bar to reduction of power consumption and in undesired increase in size of the lighting equipment as well as in costs for assembly of that lighting equipment.

What is worse, if such many arrays of LEDs remain in “on” state for continued emission of the band of light, a temperature surrounding them is inevitably increased to a certain high degree, although such increased degree of temperature is lower than an increased degree of temperature caused by many fluorescent lamps or incandescent lamps used in the same situation.

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